North Korea displays new Pukguksong-2 nuclear-capable missiles during military parade

The Korean People’s Army used the military parade in Pyongyang on 15 April to public display Pukguksong-2 nuclear-capable missiles.

Pukguksong-2, also known as KN-15 by intelligence outside of North Korea, is a medium-range or intermediate-range ballistic missile under development by North Korea, which unlike the nation’s earlier designs, uses solid fuel. The liquid fuel engines that North Korea uses in all its medium- and long-range missiles are dangerous because the fuel is so corrosive and volatile

Described as ‘nuclear-capable’, its first test flight was on 12 February 2017. The state-run KCNA news agency said leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test, which was described as a success.

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The Pukguksong-2 is also road-mobile on tractor-erector-launcher units, analysts point out, all of which means that the weapon is more difficult to detect and neutralise before it is launched.

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